The TriDot Triathlon Podcast

Your best triathlon performance is preceded by an effective taper. Join coaches John Mayfield and Elizabeth James as they discuss the purpose of the taper and how to productively finish preparing for your race. The coaches overview your final workouts, considerations for sleep and nutrition, and how to handle travel during this time.

In this episode we count down the "Top 12 Reasons to be a Triathlete." Host Andrew Harley is joined by John Mayfield, Elizabeth James, and Jeff Raines for a celebratory look into what makes our sport so special. Will your reason be mentioned? Listen in and then join us on social media to tell why you love being a triathlete.

Do you really need to strength train to succeed as a triathlete? Dr. B.J. Leeper's answer may surprise you! On this episode, host Andrew Harley, coach Elizabeth James, and physical therapist B.J. Leeper discuss the role of strength training in triathlon preparations. Can lifting make you faster? Will doing specific exercises prevent injury? Listen in to learn if strength training can help you beco...

Race rehearsals are a great opportunity for you to practice everything heading into race day. Join coaches John Mayfield and Elizabeth James as they give tips for testing your gear, nutrition, hydration, and pacing during these preparatory sessions. John and Elizabeth also overview RaceX’s race-execution tools that you can use both in your rehearsals and during your race. Be ready for the starting...

TriDot coaches John Mayfield, Elizabeth James, and Jeff Raines are in the hot seat on this round-robin, rapid-fire episode! The coaches answer your questions about a variety of topics. Learn how to maintain your bike and determine if a product or supplement is in compliance with anti-doping regulations. We'll also discuss tips for running on a treadmill, preventing your goggles from fogging, and r...

Our sport is filled with life-changing moments, inspirational stories, and forever friendships. In this episode, you'll be motivated and inspired by all three. Triathlete Adam Cook shares his multisport journey that has impacted his life forever and set him on a wild challenge that took him all of 2020 to complete. Gain motivation as he shares about his major lifestyle changes and the heart-warmin...

What is intermittent fasting and why are some athletes adopting this approach? In this episode, expert nutritionist Dr. Krista Austin outlines different types of fasting and overviews how restricting food can impact your body composition, mood, sleep patterns, HbA1c, insulin regulation, and cholesterol levels. Learn about fat oxidation, muscle protein synthesis, and nutrient timing in relationship...

Crossing the IRONMAN finish line requires dutiful physical preparation. But even the most physically-prepared athletes may succumb to the day's elements without a proper race-day nutrition plan. Learn from two of TriDot's elite athletes and coaches, Jeff Raines and Elizabeth James, as they discuss developing and implementing a race-day nutrition strategy.

Why is movement the foundation of the Performance Pyramid, and how can understanding it benefit your triathlon training? Listen in as physical therapist and TriDot coach, Dr. B.J. Leeper, answers this and more! Learn how to identify areas of your body that could most benefit from improved mobility and stability. Dr. Leeper discusses how functional movements can be used to increase range of motion...

Significant improvement in your race performance requires training that is counter-intuitive for most triathletes. They are trapped in the Power-Stamina Paradox and will never realize their performance potential until they escape the mindset and training habits that undermine their progress. In this episode, we explain the paradox and how you can escape it's crippling effect on your training and r...

What is carbohydrate periodization and how can you benefit from this nutritional approach? On this episode, nutritional expert Dr. Krista Austin overviews the role that carbohydrates play in both your daily and training nutrition. Get examples of how to periodize your carbohydrate intake to optimize performance and health and learn if 'carb-loading' is a must or a myth for endurance athletes.

Are you ready to get back to racing? On this episode, host Andrew Harley interviews athletes that had the opportunity to race in 2020. Join the conversation as the athletes discuss being in limbo throughout the season with multiple event cancellations. Learn what precautions events are taking in regard to COVID and get tips and advice for handling new policies and procedures for when you're ready...

Why should you warmup before your next race? Join TriDot coaches Elizabeth James and Jeff Raines as they answer common questions about the pre-race warmup. Learn the appropriate warmup durations for each race distance (it's different for a sprint and Ironman!) and when to begin your warmup routine prior to the start. Understand how incorporating muscle activation exercises primes your body for its...

Join TriDot coaches John Mayfield, Elizabeth James, and Jeff Raines as they reflect on some of their favorite TriDot Podcast episodes from the past year. Revisit the year's top coaching advice, insights into TriDot's technology, and special moments with guests on the show. Whether you're a first-time listener or long-time subscriber, find out which episodes will help you kickstart your 2021 season...

Race execution should not be an experiment! On this episode, TriDot founder and CEO, Jeff Booher, and TriDot coach Elizabeth James, introduce RaceX (www. MyRaceX.com)—an application specifically designed to help athletes race faster. RaceX delivers the fastest possible race times given your fitness and race conditions by providing an optimized race execution plan. Learn how you can get predicted s...

What is fat oxidation and why have some triathletes adopted a ketogenic nutritional approach? On this episode, nutritional expert Dr. Krista Austin overviews high fat, low carb diets. Are there performance benefits from minimizing your dependency on carbohydrates? Can increasing your fat intake help you avoid the bonk on race day? Listen in as Dr. Austin outlines how you can evaluate if an HFLC ap...

Triathletes are quick to adopt the latest and greatest in training gadgets, including recovery tools. But which tools are worth the hype and your hard-earned dollar? Join the podcast team as physical therapist Dr. B.J. Leeper discusses a number of popular recovery tools. Learn about recovery boots, compression sleeves, massage guns, muscle scrapers and stimulation devices, foam rollers, and more!

Upgrading your triathlon equipment can increase training effectiveness, enhance comfort, and improve speed where it counts. On this episode, TriDot coaches John Mayfield and Elizabeth James outline triathlon gear upgrades for the swim, bike, and run. Learn what 'key items' you might be missing and get recommendations for which premium products make the biggest impact on performance.

What distance should you target for your next race? Whether you are ready to sign up for your first triathlon or you're a seasoned athlete looking for your next finish line, TriDot coaches John Mayfield and Elizabeth James discuss considerations for your next race registration. Get answers to common questions like: "What is the best distance for your first triathlon?" "How many times should you ra...

Tim O'Donnell is one of the world’s most successful and experienced long-course triathletes. On this episode, Andrew Harley and Elizabeth James interview Tim about the progression of his career from new professional to the fastest American finish at the Ironman World Championship race. Tim shares stories about racing ITU events, transitioning to long-course racing, meeting his wife Mirinda Carfrae...

What does it mean to be vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian or pescatarian? On this episode, resident nutritional expert Dr. Krista Austin overviews plant-based nutrition. Does a plant-based diet result in greater health benefits such as lower cholesterol, better heart health, or faster weight loss? What are some key sources of protein you should look for if avoiding animal products? Listen in as Dr. A...

Why are some athletes more predisposed to injury than others? Is injury from triathlon training inevitable? On this episode, Dr. BJ Leeper, physical therapist and TriDot coach, shares his expertise and experience to answer these questions and more. Know when to train through discomfort and when to seek advice from a medical professional. Learn how to assess your likelihood of injury and take preve...

Normalized Training Stress™ (NTS™) is a method of quantifying the physiological stress from a training session and is an essential element of optimized training. Join TriDot founder and CEO, Jeff Booher, and TriDot's VP of Athlete Services, John Mayfield, as they discuss how NTS considers a session’s discipline type, environment, intensity distribution, intensity levels, intensity durations, and y...

What are the pros & cons of continuing to swim and bike while training for your standalone running event? TriDot coaches, and Boston qualifiers, Jeff Raines and Elizabeth James answer this and more! Gain key insights into your run event preparation as the coaches debunk some marathon myths, highlight key training sessions, and discuss how long your long run should be. Be prepared for your even...

The rich history of the Ironman World Championship is steeped in heroes, legends, and lore. In this episode, the podcast team is joined by TriDot coach and nine-time IMWC finisher Kurt Madden as he discusses the history of the World Championship event. Kurt shares stories of racing in the early days on Oahu and some of his top-ten finishes at Kona. Gain an insider perspective into the Iron War riv...